Dear Sister, My part of the world has been
Better for your having lived therein.
You were blest ‘neath the Prophet Joseph’s hands
And received from his life’s divine commands.
And, speaking with him, your voice it was
Which quickened the thought and dispatched the cause
Wherein all women may aid and bless
The sister’s work to relieve distress.
Then the key was in women’s favor turned—
What lessons have Zion’s daughters learned!
May their children and children’s children tell
Your name and your works throughout Israel. . .

You might want to look at the autograph book and share some of the other messages with Keepa.

(sorry about the extra blank line in the poem, it doesn’t show it that way when I type it)

And pleased to know that SGK wasn’t referring to Emma in a cold way (a sort of John McCain-like “that one” reference). Still, there may be something to her tone in that her description of Mr. Bidaman is as simply “a former acquaintance.” That term seems somewhat loaded?

There were two “original” manuscripts — one written by the scribes as Joseph dictated, and the fair copy made to take to the printer. I *think* the printer’s original was owned by David Whitmer from early days onward, until he presented it to the LDS church; we still have that. I don’t know whether the Community of Christ or anyone else may have preserved some of the ruined dictated original. Somebody better informed, please speak up with corrections or additions — I keep warning y’all that history for me starts with 24 July 1847, and that I’m very shaky on the earlier details.

Thanks for clarifying the matter of which of Louis C. Bidaman’s wives would have been the one to bring in the box.